Luggage Having Electrical Generator

ABSTRACT

Luggage having an electrical generator for powering or recharging electronic devices is provided. The luggage includes a body resembling any of various types of luggage having one or more rotating wheels, such as a suitcase or carry-on bag, among others. An electrical generator is operably connected to a wheel of the luggage in order to produce electricity as the wheels of the luggage are rolled along a surface. A port is electrically connected to the electrical generator, wherein electricity produced by the electrical generator is supplied to the port in order to power an electronic device removably engaged therewith. A control is provided for engaging and disengaging the electrical generator with a wheel of the luggage. In some embodiments, a battery is provided for storing electricity produced by the electrical generator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/126,760 filed on Mar. 2, 2015. The above identified patentapplication is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety toprovide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to luggage. More specifically, the presentinvention provides luggage having means for powering or charging anelectronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet, among any of variousother electronic devices.

People often use one or more mobile electronic devices while traveling,such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, among others. People may usethese devices in order to communicate with friends, family, orcoworkers, to arrange transportation, to perform work, or to engage inleisure activities. However, frequent use of mobile electronic devicesmay cause the battery to drain rapidly, requiring the user to charge thedevice.

While traveling, it can be difficult to find somewhere to plug in amobile electronic device for charging. Train stations, bus terminals,and airports generally lack publicly accessible power outlets. Loungesor other areas where power outlets are available may only have a limitednumber of power outlets. As a result, a person may be unable to chargehis or her mobile device, causing the battery to deplete or causing theperson to cease using the mobile device in order to retain any remainingbattery life for an emergency situation. For these reasons, it isdifficult to maintain battery life of an electronic device whiletraveling.

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to portablecharging devices. These include devices that have been patented andpublished in patent application publications. These devices generallyrelate to luggage or bags having means for charging or powering anelectronic device, such as U.S. Published Patent Application Number2013/0221898, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2012/0152677,U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2010/0231161, U.S. PublishedPatent Application Number 2014/0116413, and U.S. Published PatentApplication Number 2005/0162121.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. The devices in theprior art fail to provide luggage having an electrical generator thatcan be removably engaged with the wheels of the luggage. Further, thedevices in the prior art fail to provide a battery for storingelectricity produced by the electrical generator.

In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted thatthe present invention substantially diverges in design elements from theprior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the artfor an improvement to existing portable charging devices. In this regardthe instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofluggage now present in the prior art, the present invention provides newluggage having an electrical generator wherein the same can be utilizedfor providing convenience for the user when charging or powering anelectronic device while traveling.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved luggage comprising one or more wheels and an electricalgenerator, wherein the electrical generator is powered by rotation ofthe wheels of the luggage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide luggage havingan electrical generator that produces electricity and supplies theelectricity to a port adapted to removably receive an electronic deviceso as to power or recharge the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide luggage having anelectrical generator having a control for activating and deactivatingthe electrical generator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide luggage havingan electrical generator housed separately from a main compartment of theluggage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a luggage havingan electrical generator that may be readily fabricated from materialsthat permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and mannerin which it may be made and used may be better understood after a reviewof the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a transparent view of the luggage having an electricalgenerator.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the electrical generator.

FIG. 3 shows a rear cross sectional view of the luggage having anelectrical generator.

FIG. 4 shows a side cross sectional view of the luggage having anelectrical generator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similarelements of the luggage having an electrical generator. For the purposesof presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention,the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for generatingelectricity to power an electronic device. The figures are intended forrepresentative purposes only and should not be considered to be limitingin any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a transparent view of theluggage having an electrical generator. The luggage 11 comprises a body12, wherein the body 12 can be that of any luggage having at least onewheel 15 thereon. Thus, the luggage 11 can resemble a suitcase, arollable carry-on bag, a rollable trunk, or any of various otherrollable devices. The luggage 11 further comprises a handle 20 thatextends upward from the body 12 of the luggage. The handle 20 may betelescopic so as to retract into the body 12 and extend therefrom asdesired. It is not desired to limit the specific type of luggageutilized and a person having ordinary skill in the art can readilyenvision various types of wheeled luggage, bags, and the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the luggage 11 comprises a body 12 havingan upper end 13 and a lower end 14. The lower end 14 includes at leastone rotatable wheel 15 thereon. Preferably, the luggage 11 comprises apair of rotatable wheels 15 rotatable about a common axle 17, whereineach of said rotatable wheels 15 is disposed on said axle 17. Anelectrical generator 16 is removably engageable with the wheels 15 orwith the axle 17, wherein the electrical generator 16 is driven byrotation of the wheels 15 or axle 17 as the luggage 11 is rolled along asurface, such that rotation of the wheels 15 or axle 17 allows thegenerator 16 to produce electricity. The electricity produced by theelectrical generator 16 is then supplied to a port 19 disposed on thebody 12 of the luggage so that a user may power or recharge anelectronic device.

A control 26 is provided for engaging and disengaging the electricalgenerator 16 with the wheel 15 or axle 17. The control 26 is operablyconnected to the electrical generator 16 via an electrical cable 18.When it is not desired for the generator 16 to produce electricity, theelectrical generator 16 can be disengaged via the control 26. In thisway, the wheels 15 can rotate freely and without resistance from theelectrical generator 16. When it is desired to produce electricity tocharge an electronic device, the control 26 can be operated so that theelectrical generator 16 engages the wheel 15 or axle 17 so as to utilizethe rotational energy to produce electrical energy.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a plan view of an embodiment ofthe electrical generator. The electrical generator 16 can be engagedwith the wheel 15 or axle 17 through various arrangements. In someembodiments, the axle 17 comprises a fixed gear 31 thereon that rotatesas the wheels 15 of the luggage 11 rotate. The generator 16 comprises arotatable shaft 32 having a freely rotating gear 33 thereon, wherein thefreely rotating gear 33 engages with the fixed gear 31 on the axle 17.The rotatable shaft 32 further includes a clutch 34 that can beremovably engaged with the freely rotating gear 33, wherein engagementof the clutch 34 with the freely rotating gear 33 causes the freelyrotating gear 33 to become a fixed to the rotatable shaft 32, such thatrotation of the freely rotating gear 33 also causes the shaft to rotate32. Rotary motion of the rotatable shaft 32 causes the electricalgenerator 16 to produce electricity. However, when the clutch 34 is notengaged with the freely rotating gear 33, the freely rotating gear 33rotates about the shaft and the shaft 32 does not rotate. Variousalternate arrangements for driving the electrical generator arecontemplated, so long as the rotation of the wheels or axle provides thedriving force for production of electrical energy.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a rear cross sectional view of anembodiment of the luggage having an electrical generator. In theillustrated embodiment, the generator 16 comprises an external wheel 21that is removably engageable with a rotatable wheel 15 of the luggage11. The external wheel 21 is movable from an inactive position in whichthe external wheel 21 does not contact the rotatable wheel 15, to anactive position where the external wheel 21 contacts the rotatable wheel15. In the active position, the external wheel 21 rotates as therotatable wheel 15 rotates, wherein the rotation of the external wheel21 drives the electrical generator 16. A control 26 is provided, whereinoperation of the control 26 causes the external wheel 21 to move betweenthe inactive and active positions. The external wheel 21 may be operablyconnected to an actuator that causes the external wheel 21 to shiftlaterally so as to disengage the wheel 15 of the luggage 11.

In some embodiments, a battery 22 is electrically connected to theelectrical generator 16 via an electrical cable 18 for storingelectricity produced by the electrical generator 16. In this way,electricity is generated while the user rolls the luggage 11 from onelocation to another, and the electricity is stored for later use.Without the battery 22, an electronic device could only be charged orpowered while the luggage 11 is actively being rolled.

The luggage 11 further comprises a port 19 on an upper end 13 thereofadapted to receive an electronic device therein. The port 19 iselectrically connected to the electrical generator 16, whereinelectricity produced by the electrical generator 16 is distributed tothe port 19. Alternatively, in embodiments having a battery 22, theelectricity produced by the generator is stored in the battery 22, andthe battery 22 is in electrical connection with the port 19. The port 19is preferably a USB port, however, various other types of ports arecontemplated. In this way, the user can removably engage a chargingcable of an electronic device, or the electronic device itself, with theport 19 of the luggage 11 in order to charge or power the same.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a side cross sectional view ofthe luggage having an electrical generator. In the illustratedembodiment, the luggage 11 comprises a body 12 resembling a traditionalsuitcase. The body 12 comprises an interior volume 23 in which clothesand various other items can be stored for travel. The interior volume 23is accessible via a lid 24 that is removably securable over the interiorvolume 23, via a fastener such as a zipper, so as to enclose the same.The interior volume 23 can be divided into one or more compartmentsdepending upon the embodiment. It is not desired to limit theconfiguration of the compartments or storage areas within the luggage11.

The electrical generator 16 is housed within an enclosed compartment 25of the body 12 of the luggage 11 so that the electrical generator 16 isnot accessible from the interior volume 23 of the luggage 11. Theelectrical generator 16 and other electrical components are not visibleby the user and are positioned separately from the interior volume 23 ofthe luggage 11. Preferably, the enclosed compartment 25 is composed of arigid material so as to protect the generator 16 and other electricalcomponents from damage. The generator 16 may be positioned within awaterproof enclosure to prevent exposure of the generator 16 to liquidin the event that the luggage 11 becomes wet due to precipitation, or inthe event a liquid spills within the interior volume 23 of the luggage11.

In some embodiments, the body 12 further comprises a vent 26 adapted toallow heat produced from the generator 16 to escape from the body 12 ofthe luggage 11. The vent 26 helps to prevent the generator 16 fromoverheating and helps to prevent the generator 16 from heating theinterior volume 23 of the luggage 11. The vent 26 is positioned adjacentto the location of the generator 16. The vent 26 can be located on arear portion of the body 12 or can be positioned on the lower end orunderside of the luggage 11, depending upon the embodiment.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown anddescribed in what is considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be madewithin the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications willoccur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the abovedescription then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim: 1) A luggage device having an electrical generator, comprising:a body having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end having atleast one rotatable wheel thereon; an electrical generator removablyengageable with said at least one rotatable wheel; wherein rotation ofsaid at least one rotatable wheels powers said electrical generator whensaid electrical generator is engaged therewith; a port disposed on saidbody and electrically connected to said electrical generator, whereinsaid port is adapted to removably receive an electronic device so as toprovide electricity thereto. 2) The luggage device of claim 1, whereinsaid body resembles a suitcase. 3) The luggage device of claim 1,wherein said body comprises a main compartment adapted for use instoring various items, and comprises an enclosed compartment in whichsaid electrical generator is positioned. 4) The luggage device of claim1, further comprising a control disposed on said body and electricallyconnected to said electrical generator, wherein said control engages anddisengages said electrical generator with said at least one rotatablewheel on said lower end of said body. 5) The luggage device of claim 1,further comprising a battery electrically connected to said electricalgenerator, wherein said battery is adapted to store electrical energyproduced by said electrical generator. 6) The luggage device of claim 1,further comprising a vent on said body adapted to allow heat produced bysaid electrical generator to escape said body. 7) The luggage device ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one rotatable wheel comprises a pair ofrotatable wheels connected by an axle. 8) The luggage device of claim 1,wherein said electrical generator comprises an external wheel adapted toengage with said at least one rotatable wheel such that rotation of saidat least one rotatable wheel causes said external wheel to rotate,wherein rotation of said external wheel drives said generator.